Bowl Preview Week 2

Well here we go, this one will be work in progress all week, I will probably get it done the first couple games and keep working throughout the week.

Friday
Motor City Bowl: Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan (Detroit) Players to Watch: Rusty Smith quarterback for Florida Atlantic, he is the leader of the team and has put up some big numbers for his team this year, they have went 5-1 to get in the bowl. Dan LeFevour quarterback for Central Michigan, the MAC's version of Tim Tebow without the leadership, this guy is really good and will be a big time NFL player in a couple years. This game is a supposed shootout so maybe I will turn it on in the Fourth quarter but I really could care less about this, I will take the "home" team in this one. CMU 41-38

Saturday
Meineke Car Care Bowl: West Virgina vs. North Carolina (Charlotte) Players to Watch: Pat White quarterback for West Virgina, he is 3-0 as a starter in bowl games so he lives for these games and being his last game as a Mountaineer will be something special. Hakeem Nicks wide receiver for North Carolina, despite all of the different quarterbacks all year due to injury, Nicks has been their most consistent player all year and will be needed against a tough West Virgina secondary. The game is being played in Charlotte so the Tar Heels have some advantage but they will have their hands full with White so it will be a close game with the Mountaineers pulling it out. WVU 27-24

Champs Sports Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Florida State (Orlando) Players to Watch: John Clay running back for Wisconsin, sometimes bowl games are like crystal ball to foresee what next year will be about and if Clay has a big game against the FSU defense, the future could get even brighter. Christian Ponder quarterback for Florida State, he is the future of the Seminoles on offense and will need to have a big game against the Badgers. It seems whenever a fast team matches up with a Big 10 team it doesnt turn out pretty for the Big 10 school but I think the Badgers team speed matches up with the Noles somewhat although I cannot see Wisconsin having enough offense to beat Florida State. FSU 20-17

Emerlad Bowl: Miami vs. California (San Francisco) Players to Watch: Jacory Harris quarterback for Miami, alot like Clay, Harris could prove to be the future of Hurricane football if he can get it done for suspended Robert Marve. Harris is very quick and it will be interesting to see if the Golden Bears are able to respond. Jahvid Best, running back for California, no pun intended one of the best young backs in the NCAA and dont be surprised if Best is in the Heisman running next year to start the season out. This game I am pretty excited about because I feel both teams are relatively even and there is no glaring hole for either side. I think because of Best, the Golden Bears will control the clock and put this one away in the fourth. CAL 31-21

Sunday
Independence Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech (Shreveport, LA) Players to Watch: Chandler Harnish quarterback for Northern Illinois, he didnt really start playing until conference play in October but he has been the catalyst for the Husky offense at the end of the year. He has done it with both his arm and feet. Daniel Porter running back for Louisiana Tech, when the Bulldogs went on a four game winning streak late in the season, it was Porter who got them there with over 100 yards in each of those games. Here's the deal, this is probably the worst bowl out of the thirty-four but with Tech having the "home" advantage and Northern Illinois has struggled of late while the Bulldogs havent. LATECH 27-10

Monday
Papajohns.com Bowl: NC State vs. Rutgers (Birmingham) Players to Watch: Russell Wilson quarterback for NC State, a redshirt freshman whose future is very bright as he has thrown only one interception all year and has been the leader in the four game winning streak to get them into the bowl. Mike Teel quarterback for Rutgers, he has been a monster during the Big East season throwing for six and seven touchdowns in two Big East games this year. I think he would be a great 3rd-5th round pick for any NFL team this upcoming draft. Both of these teams are red-hot going into the bowl season and led by great quarterbacks although I think Rutgers will be the stronger team going into it and will win a close game. RUT 21-20

Valero Alamo Bowl: 21. Missouri vs. 23. Northwestern (San Antonio) Players to Watch: Chase Daniel quarterback for Missouri, the last game of his career and its highly unlikely he will get drafted in the NFL being only 5'10 so I expect him to go all out and end his career with a bang. C.J. Bacher quarterback for Northwestern, he is a dual-threat out of the spread and despite high expectations for Tyrell Sutton, he has been the key for this great season for the Wildcats. Some consider this a mis-match but I think Mizzou defense allows games to stay close with their shotty play. If the Wildcats can slow down the Missouri offense, they can win this game. I think they will come up a bit short, expect alot of points. MIZZOU 42-38

Tuesday
Roady's Humantarian Bowl: Maryland vs. Nevada (Boise) Players to Watch: Chris Turner quarterback for Maryland, the Terps have had one of the biggest ups and downs seasons for all of the NCAA and Turner has been the strongest players on the team. Colin Kaepernick quarterback for Nevada, real underrated quarterback in college football he has thrown for almost 2500 and rushed for over 1100 that is unreal. This guy should be a threat to watch. The Terps are one of the most inconsistent team this year so it really will be a question of what team will show up, I will say the bad one. NEVADA 24-10

Texas Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Rice (Houston) Players to Watch: Tim Hiller quarterback for Western Michigan, Hiller has been a beast this year throwing for thirty-four touchdowns and over 3400 yards. He has a big play target in Jamarko Simmons whose also had a big year. Jarrett Dillard wide receiver for Rice, very underrated player has 19 touchdowns and over 1200 yards this year which is unheard of and will be playing on Sundays for a long time. This a "home" game for the Owls and there shouldnt be any defense in this game, just throw the ball around the whole fields, I will take the combination of Dillard and James Casey. RICE 45-41

Holiday Bowl: 13. Oklahoma State vs. 17. Oregon (San Diego) Players to Watch: Dez Bryant wide receiver for Oklahoma State, one of the best big play threats in college football and the Ducks defense will be challenge all game by Bryant. Jeremiah Masoli quarterback for Oregon, it looked bleak for the Ducks at the beginning of the year with many quarterbacks hit the injured reserve, they have found a pleasant surprise in Masoli. This bowl always seems to have classics and this one could be another one. The Ducks are going to need a couple defensive stops to keep up with the Cowboys run n' gun offense, I will that Oklahoma State pulling away in the fourth. OK STATE 38-28

-Charlie.